Harry Potter

Harry Potter is the fictional protagonist of a series of novels written by J. K. Rowling. The series revolves around an eponymous orphan child who finds that he is a wizard. Potter then goes to a school for wizards and has many adventures there learning magic and using it to fight the forces of the evil Lord Voldemort who killed Potter's parents when he was an infant. Along the way, Potter learns about life and death and grapples with questions of morality and friendship. As of 2007, the series is projected to consist of seven novels, of which six have been published, with the seventh to be released in July of 2007.

The Harry Potter series is viewed by some people to be controversial and even anti-Christian because of its unbiblical subject matter and the books have been accused of promoting witchcraft.[1] [2] [3] [4] Some evangelical Christians have attempted to ban the books in public schools[5]. These claims were conflated and exacerbated by a piece in the satirical newspaper The Onion purporting to interview children who had become involved in satanism and witchcraft after reading the Harry Potter books and could now cast spells.[6] [7] Rowling has denied such claims.[8] The mainstream media has not taken this claim seriously.^{[Citation Needed]}

Further, allegations of the damaging nature of Harry Potter propter witchcraft, even if true, are insubstantial next to the good that has been done by the series. Harry Potter has inspired hundreds of thousands of children across the globe to learn to love to read, the foundation of an education that could propel a child into the biological sciences.

Some expect childrens' literature to present characters that are idealized role models, and teach simple, explicit life lessons. However, like other classics of children's literature, the world of Harry Potter is one in which adult authority figures are complex, imperfect, and occasionally ludicrous (as they are in Alice in Wonderland.) Harry himself, while basically a "good" person, is sometimes petty-minded, jealous, or just plain mischievous (like Tom Sawyer, or Holden Caulfield).

The good done by Harry Potter in making reading "popular" has even been recognized by governments. On July 20, 2005, at [[Prime Minister's Questions], the Right Honourable Tony Blair, Prime Minister at the time, joined the House of Commons in lauding J.K. Rowling for her contribution to the education of British young minds.

Series titles

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (original title as published in England: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (announced)